I've been attempting to replace the stock converter with a 2400 stall TCI converter. After carefully seating the converter on the front pump, the transmission would not go forward to meet the bell housing. With the two converters on the bench, the input shaft would insert easily into the stock converter but would not bottom out in the TCI converter. It hung up about 3/8" short of bottoming out. Tapped the input shaft with a rubber mallet and moved it at most 1/8". WAS able to get the shaft back out. Marked the shaft with it bottomed out in the stock converter and again where it stopped in the TCI converter. Any suggestions? Returning the converter is inconvenient because I got it thru the engine builder in Charlotte, 2+ hours away.
Thats a bummer, I would be for calling TCI and asking them whats up. I did run into a problem similar to this in a converter that I purchased from Redneck and it was a problem with the stacked height of the components inside the converter I fought it for quite awhile I thought it was the snout of the converter not going into the crank. I ended up taking mine to a converter shop and they cut it open and corrected the stacked height issue and all was good. Have you looked at the splines to see if there is any wear marks, how far did it go in? Hopefully you are not dealing with trying to stick a 26 spline shaft in a 24 spline converter.
Input shaft splines are good. This is a 500 HP C4 from Broader Performance and the input shaft might be new and tougher than stock. No significant wear or boogering of the splines on the shaft. It inserts into the stock converter smoothly till it hits bottom. The shaft goes all the way into the TCI converter except for the last 3/8" (see the marks in the pictures) where it hangs up -- doesn't bottom out. Think the spliine in the TC has to be boogered. I called the engine builder in Charlotte and I guess I'll haul everything over there on Monday so he can get convinced the TC is bad, take it back and get a replacement. Shoulda bought the converter directly from Summit.
The TCI converter is really beefy looking but I don't know how much force can be applied tapping on the shaft without damaging the internals. I could call TCI on Monday and see what they say but thought someone might know.
This is exactly what happened to me years ago! Without telling me, Eagle Transmissions in Mesquite TX cut the input shaft. I did not know they did this. I found out after it stripped the converter out and sent metal throughout the internals. I never knew the exact cause. I suspect the converter.. I have never had to do more than a light tap for it to seat. I am no trans guy. BUT, if I see splines, I want them to be inserted to the hilt now.
Should have bought the converter from Broader, TCIs stuff is too generic. You really need something made for your engine,tranny,gears,weight of car and such, not going to get into the debate about it but having the correct converter makes a ton of difference.
Bought the stock one from Broader. At that time it was right for the 5.0. Now I need one for the 347 which doesn't idle well below 850 or 900. All I need is a looser idle so the no-load idle doesn't have to be so high. Not trying to mimimize 60' times but do expect some benefit there. :Handshake
Have you thought about sending the stock one in for a tuning up to meet your new engine specs? I am afraid that you may not gain much with the TCI. I guess time will tell once you get the bugs worked out with current TCI
You probably wont get the 347 to idle well below those rpms with anykind of cam, mine rocks like a washing machine with an unbalanced load that low
its got to be the wrong splines in the converter. you will need to send it back and get one with the right input spline.
No, didn't consider doing that. Only paid $90 for the stock one so wasn't thinking it was worth tuning. Might be just a reconditioned stock converter. Don't recall how it was listed. You think the 2400 stall idle won't be much looser than stock? That would be disappointing. Not really worried about more torque for launch. It'll spin both street tires all the way thru 1st gear with the stock converter. Have some drag radials to try on the next trip to the track but, again, track performance isn't a big priority with me. Just want to know what it will do. Went looking for some drag radials at a good price so I could get my money back after a few runs. Found some new BFG g-force tires for half price and bought them. I'll flip them after a few runs.
It engages the spline for about 5/8". Just won't go the last 3/8" Would you still think its the wrong spline?
Might be a burr in the converter spline, holding it up. If you knock the burr off, it goes into the converter and then into the trans. Not a good situation at any rate. I'd call TCI or your trans man for a new converter. Good luck, that is a beautiful car!
Many thanks and my apologies to everyone that tried to help. Everything I said about the input shaft not going as far into the TCI converter is true but it didn't matter. I was chasing a fox that wasn't the issue. I'm doing the converter swap on jack stands -- not a lot of room and hard to see what's going on. To get the transmission under the car I had to tip it forward to get the bell housing into the transmission tunnel. The converter, that I had carefully positioned on the transmission, had slipped forward and I didn't get it all the way back in place before trying to mate it to the engine. Transmission is in place now. It slid right up to the engine block like its supposed to. I didn't used to have this many problems doing stuff. Must be getting too old. Had to call the engine builder back and admit there was no problem -- at least not yet -- with the TC. Oh well, it is what it is.
